Common misconceptions about oral health in the older adult: nursing practices.

A survey of nurses, director-supervisors, and nursing home health aides who provide home care in Iowa showed that many misconceptions exist about what constitutes appropriate oral and dental care practices for the older adult. Despite differences in formal education among these nursing personnel, several misunderstandings about dental problems among older adults were common to all three employment groups. These misconceptions represented a broad range of topics from the characteristics of oral cancer lesions to the appropriate use of denture adhesives; two dealt specifically with the recognition of potential oral cancer lesions. This paper describes attitudes and misinformation held by the respondents, and suggests ways to correct these fallacies through in-service training programs.